Webster's English Dictionary

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patrol

1. pa.trol \p*-'tro-l\ n 1a: the action of traversing a district or beat or 
   of going the rounds alon g a chain of guards for the purpose of observation 
   or of the maintenance of security 1b: the person performing such an action  
   1c: a detachment of two or more men employed for reconnaissance, security,  
   or combat 2a: a subdivision of a boy scout troop made up of two or more 
   boys  2b: a subdivision of a girl scout troop usu. composed of from six to 
   eight  girls
2. patrol vb or pa.trolled;  or pa.trol.ling [F patrouiller, fr. MF, to 
   tramp around in the mud, fr. patte paw -m more at PATTEN : to carry out a 
   patrol  : to carry out a patrol of  - pa.trol.ler n